Apparatus operated by multicylinder internal-combustion engines



June 2, 1925. 1,540,610

E. DESMOULINS A APPARATUS OPERATED BY MULTICYLINDER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed June a, 1920 -Zizaezzimm invention I fit the Patented June 2, 1925.

l UNITED --STATES PATENT/OFFICE.

EMILE DESHOULINS, 0F PARIS, FRANCE. 1

L Application filed. June 8, 1920. Serial In. 887,401.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMILE Diasmouilins, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at Paris, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Apparatus Operated by Multicylinder InternaLCombustion Engines, as set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to apparatus fitted with internal combustion engines, in the case of. which it is required to work at times with full power and at other times with greatly reduced power. Its most useful application is to powerful automobile vehicles, but it may be adapted, where found desirable, to other apparatus or mechanisms operated by internal combustion engines.

The invention has for its primary object to enable the engines to be utilized in a more economical manner than has hitherto been the case.

According to the general principle of the automobile or other apparatus with" two internal combustion engines turning in the same direction and I having a number of cylinders, and the essential feature of the invention con sists'in so arranging the associated parts of said motors that their torques can be fully utilized in simultaneous operation.

In the preferred construction the cylinder or cylinders which can be brought individually or. independently into operation are grouped separately from the others.

The invention also includes certain constructional embodiments of its principles and certain arrangements such as difierential gears fitted to the unequal torques of the motors which are preferably used in combination, and which will be more fully described hereafter.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, which however is given merely by way of example. I

Fig. 1 of the drawing shows to a small scale, and' in .an absolutely diagrammatic manner and in plan the principal parts of a powerful automobile vehicle constructed accordin to the invention, ortran'sformed thereto, yre lacing its ordinary motor, by

main principle of the invention.

F1 2 shows 'to a larger scale, and 1n a less iagrammatic manner and in longitue comprise. six 0 nctioning according to the dinal vertical section, a motor constructed and arranged, and combined with a change speed mechanism, according to the invention. The latter figure is also intended to show the application of the invention in the construction 'of an automobile vehicle of high power.

Supposing I desire to-construct an automobile vehicle of 24 horse power. I proceed in the embodiment illustrated in the drawing substantially in the following manner:-

I provide for the driving motor, two internal combustion engines A and A;

The maximum power of these engines is equal to the maximum which it to employ, consequently 24 horse power in the case under consideration, in the aggregate.

The feebler motor A of the two motors has a maximum power j ual to that which is required to drive the ssh rate, for instance that allowed in large towns, say 8 horse power.

The motor system may, with advantage linders divided into two groups, the fee ler group cylinders and the stronger group A having four cylinders. The suppl and valve systems of these two groups, w ich are not s own, are distinct from one. another.

' own manner shown in Fig. 1, so that the respective crank shafts a and a are parallel and not co-axial; or preferably, and as shown at Fi according tot e invention that their respective crank shafts .a and a are in align? ment.

I further provide mechanism inter osed between the two sets of cylinders an the is required icle at the lowest A having two.

The cylinders may be arranged in the" 2, they may be so arranged J advantage, in

gle shaft to be driven) of with pinions earned by the crankshafts,

disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,407,643 of February 21, 1922, granted to me.

This mechanismis preferabl combined with the motor of the automobi e vehicle in the manner indicated in Fig. 2.

In this figure the pinions b and b are operated from corresponding inions e and a of diiferentdiameters keye to the crank shafts a a.

d d and d d are the clutches, which in this case are carried on the shaft 0.

f is a pinion or sun wheel mounted loosely on an extension of the shaft 0 and connected to a long sleeve f extending to the movable portion d of the clutch d, d" which is carried by the said extension, so that when the movable portion is in the operative osition, the sun wheel f moves with the xed portion d of the said clutch.

g are corresponding satellites, the axles of which are carried, at one end by a flange or enlargement provided for the purpose upon a planet sleeve h surrounding the last mentioned sun wheel sleeve, and at the other extremity connected to a ring i forming the axially immovable, loose part of a double clutch. The satellites g mesh with the sun wheel f.

11 is another sleeve slidable, on a long key on the extension of the shaft 0 and forming or carrying the axially movable middle portion of the double clutch to which the axially fixed cliitch portion 1' belongs. Its axial position is determined by that of the planet sleeve h, which itself is axially fixed by appropriate means not shown.

7' is' an internally toothed annulus, so constructed and arranged as to mesh with the satellites g, and integral with an annulus sleeve 9' surrounding the sun wheel and planet sleeves previously referred to and carryin the movable "portion d of the clutch d which surrounds the said annulus sleeve The construction is such that when the said movable portion d" is in the operative position, the annulus j is connected to or moves with the fixed portion 01 of the said clutch.

k is a piece of the double clutch '5 is, connected slidably by means of a key with the annulus 7', so constructed and arranged with pulley m.

respect to the outer surface of' the middle piece is of said clutch, the piece 1?, that it o and 0 are springs interposed respectivelybetween the moving portion ai of the clutch d d, and a fixed part, and between the moving part at of the clutch d d" and another fixed part, so that the said springs tend to maintain these movable parts in the operative positions.

p is a spring interposed between a fixed portion and the movable members of the clutch z, i", so that it tendsto keep this portion in the operative position.

is another spring considerably weaker than that last mentioned inter osed between projections or the like forme for the urpose upon the movable portions 71 an 70 of the clutches '5, 11 and k, 10, and tending to keep the second of these moving partsv in the operative position.

7' and r are forks so connected respectively to the movable member d of the clutch d d. and the movable portion d of the clutch d (1 that these parts can be controlled by means of hand levers.

a is a hand lever connected by operating rods having elongated eyes 8 and .9, respectively to the fork r and to the fork 7- in such a way that the two movable portions d, d are active when it is in its mid posi-. tion. By drawing it into the position denoted by numeral 1 on the drawing, or by pushing it into the position indicated by numeral 2, it is possible to move the second or the firstof the said moving parts intoinoperative position whilst at the same time leaving the first or the second of such parts in operative position.

t is a pedal connected by-suitable rods to a controlling fork u, associated with the movable portion 10, of the clutch k, 70, and also connected to an operating rodhaving an elongated eye which connects it to the band of the brake pulley n. In this way by progressively operating this pedal, the movable portion lc can first be moved into inoperative position, and then without modifying this last efiect, the band of the brake pulley n can be brought into action.

'0 is a pedal connected by a suitable rod to a controlling fork w associated with the movable part $9, of the clutch 11, 11 and also connected through a rod having an elongated eve with the band of the brake By pressing progressively upon this pedal, the movable portion of the clutch '13,, J can first be moved into inoperative position, and then and without modifying this effect, the band of the brake pulley m can be brought into action.

a: is another pedal connected by a suitable rod to the band of the brake pulley Z, so that this band can be brought into action by depressing the pedal.

By means of pawls, not shown on the drawing, fitted in connection with the lever s, it may beso arranged that when this lever is brought into one of its extreme positions 1 or 2, it may be maintained in the said position as long as may be required.

t is a pawl so connected to the edal t that once this pedal is depressed su ciently to move the movable piece 2'" which it controls into the inoperative position, it is kept in that position. The pawl is moreover so constructed that t may be thrown out of action by means of the foot which operates the said pedal.

The whole arrangement just described enables the following advantageous results amongst others to be obtained The feebler motor A is started to operate.

The pedal tis engaged with the pawl. The lever s is brought into the position 1, and with the assistance of any apparatus designed for the purpose, for instance by means of a handle 3 the motor is started. With the feeble motor A turning in the common normal turning direction of the two motors, which direction will, for the sake of simplicity, be termed hereafter as the positive direction, the drive is transmitted through the parts a a b. al al f to the sun wheel f which is driven in the positive direction. On account of the resistance offered by the shaft 0 through the, inter vention of the clutch 73, 71 to the rotation of the satellites g as a whole, that is since their axes are 'fixed, the internally toothed annulus j which carries the brake pulley n is'driven in the negative direction.

2. First speed. Cause the feebler motor A to turn alone. Pushthe pedal t to the bottom. This, by braking the pulley n prevents the rotation of the pulley n in the negative direction just described, and consequently obliges the satellites g to move on the annulus 7', overcoming the resistance of the shaft 0.

3. Second speed. Let the feebler motor A turn alone. Allow the pedal t to come back to the original position, for this purpose suitably operating upon the pawl mechanism, t". This operation locks the whole of the differential train and enables a direct grip or drive to be obtained.

4. Third s 'eed. The two motors A and A are caused to turn at the same time. To accomplish this operation, the lever s is put into the mid position so as to start the stronger motor A from the feebler motor time by the sun wheel and the annulus.

The velocity thus obtained is variable at will by modifying, with. the assistance of.

the arrangements provided for that pur pose, the drive of one or other of the parts A and A of the motor.

5. Fourth speed. Leave the two groups A and A of the motors still turnin but utilize the group A alone. -In or er to effect this fourth speed, the operation is as f follows:

Bring the lever a into the osition 2, thus declutching the group A. hen allow the the pedal t to move right back, as previously. This obliges the whole differential gear to become again locked and causes the direct operation, but this is effected on this occasion by the second portion alone of the motor.

6. Fifth speed. Leave the two motor groups turning and utilize them at the same time. In order to bring this about, operations of the parts are executed as follows:

Push the pedal t into position to be engaged by the pawl. Then move the lever 8 into the mid position. This causes direct drive from the two motors. 7

The braking is obtained by simply operating the pedal w.

8. In order to obtain the reverse drive, operations have to be executed as follows:

' Bring all the parts into the respectiveposi'tions corresponding to the second speed. Then press the pedal 1: downwards. This bri the movable portion 5 of the clutch 2', 71 itherto operative into the inoperative position, and then produces a braking action upon the pulley m. The consequence is that the axles of the satellites g are prevented from moving, so that under the action exercised upon them in the positive direction i by the sun wheel f, the annulus j is operated, and con vention: of the clutch k, kand the said movable portion 91 then free, the shaft 0 moves in the negative direction.

It will be understood that, in the case of both motors being utilized, the feebler motor, with its feeble torque, acts on the sun wheel, and the stronger motor with its strong torque acts on the annulus, The sun wheel acts on the satellites at a short dis--" tance from the common center of the difierential gearing, and the annulus acts on the said satellites at a greater distance from said common center, both acting with the same force in order to drive the The possibility of a rfect lance of unequal torques is thus c early obvious.

sequently through the interlanet carrier.

- It is to be clearly understood as previously explained that the invention is not limited in any way to the methods ,of carcases comprise motors of the same power, but under these conditions the crankshafts trolling rying it into effect nor to the particular applications just described.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the principle.

For instance in some cases the two gears 6 and b may be of the'same diameter.

For constructing the dilferential changespeed mechanism, I may in some cases provide bevel gearing instead of straight out gear wheels. 7 I

The improved organization embodying the features of the invention may'in some of the motors will be in alinement.

Other means may be-provided for conthe different clutches besides those just described.

preferably arranged Finally, although the invention has been described as applied topowerful automobile vehicles, it is obvious thatit may be applied to other apparatus or mechanism.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letter's Patent of the United States of America 1s:-

1. In an automobile vehicle, the combination of .a driven shaft, two internal combustion engines, one. of the engines being of greater power than the other, and both turning in the same direction, a separate crank-' shaft operated by each englne, the two crank-shafts each having a pinion keyed ing clutch thereon, a clutch part for each of said engines mounted to constantly rotate on said 50 driven shaft when its engine is in operation, gear wheels carried by the constantly rotatparts and meshing with said pinions, mova le clutch parts associated with said constantly rotating clutch parts, a dif ferential mechanism comprising rotatable concentric spaced annular. parts driven respectively t rough the said clutch connections by said engines, planet pinions in planet pinions, the clutch for cooperation driven connection with said annular parts, said annular parts having radial leverage with res ect to the common axis so arranged that both parts will act with equal force on the planet pinions and will compensate for the unequal tor ues of the mechanism connecting the annu ar parts to their respective engines,- and clutch means on the driven shaft for selectively connecting said driven shaft to various parts of the differential mechanism whereby variations in the speed of said driven shaft are obtained. 2. In an automobile vehicle, the combination of a driven shaft, two internal combustion engineseach having a crank-shaft, one of the enginesbeing of greater horse power than the other, both turning in the same direction and each comprising a number of cylinders and a clutch, the one clutch having developed thereon a stronger torque than the other clutch, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft and driven by the clutch of the engine of lower horseower, a sun Wheel carried by said sleeve an planet gearing comprising carryin means having axles with planet pinions i astened thereto, the planet pinions meshing with the sun wheel, a planet sleeve connected to the carrying means and having a brake pulley thereon, a double clutch having an axially immovable loose part'at, the inner portion thereof also connected to the planet pinion and permitting the carryin -means to be clutched to the driven sha t, an annular sleeve mounted loosely on the having a toothe annulus meshing with the with said annular sleeve and stron er motor for the purpose of driving t e said sleeve, 2:. part associated with the said an- 3 nulus meshm with the planet pinions cari v 100 rying a band rakeand having the exterior part of Said double clutch axiall and slidably keyed thereto, the. double 0 utch being operativeto connect and cause the pinion carrying means, the driven ax e and the annulus to turn as .a whole, braking means on the driven shaft, the planet carrying sleeve and the said annulus, and clutch ope-rating means on the axially slidable parts of the clutch between the feebler motor and the sun wheel and between the stronger motor and the annulus and also 00- operating with the remaining parts to effect different steps of forward to no and one step of rearward torque onthe riven shaft.

In witness whereof I afiix my signature. I

dplanet gearing sleeve and lanet- DESMOULINS. 

